High range digital angular rate sensor based on frequency modulation

Abstract

A digital angular rate sensor system based on frequency modulation (FM) of the rotation rate. The new approach relies on tracking of the resonant frequencies of two high-Q mechanical modes of vibration in a MEMS vibratory gyroscope to produce an inherently digital measurement of the input angular rate. The disclosed system is enabled by a combination of a MEMS vibratory high-Q gyroscope and a new signal processing scheme which takes advantage of a previously ignored gyroscope dynamics effect. The FM nature of the system eliminates noise versus bandwidth and resolution versus dynamic range tradeoffs of conventional vibratory rate gyroscopes. The FM approach allows achieving superior signal-to-noise-ratio through the use of ultra-high Q (1 million) mechanical structure without limiting the measurement bandwidth. Stability of 1e-9 can be achieved in the FM system, providing a 1000 times improvement over the state-of-the-art conventional AM gyroscopes with capacitive pick-off.

Description

GOVERNMENT RIGHTS[0001]This invention was made with government support under Grant No. N00014-09-1-0424 awarded by the Office of Naval Research. The government has certain rights in the invention.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field of the Technology[0003]The disclosure relates to the field of micromachined inertial sensors and gyroscopes, specifically high range digital angular rate sensors based on frequency modulation.[0004]2. Description of the Prior Art[0005]Vibratory gyroscopes have long be used in the art and maximization of their quality (Q) factors is key to improving performance. Mode matching of conventional high-Q angular rate gyroscopes increases the signal-to-noise ratio at the tradeoff of linear range and measurement bandwidth (10 deg / s range, sub-Hz bandwidth typical for Q˜100 k). These constraints stem from a fundamental Q versus bandwidth tradeoff and dynamic range limitations of analog Amplitude Modulation (AM) systems. In conventional Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) gy...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes an angular rate sensor that uses a new approach to measure angular speed. This approach is based on the observation that certain vibrations have a natural frequency that changes when the temperature changes. By measuring the frequency of these vibrations, the sensor can detect and isolate the input angle of the sensor. This new method eliminates problems with traditional am gyroscopes, making them more accurate and reliable. It also allows for the simultaneous detection of other interference sources, such as device temperature, which can affect the accuracy of the sensor. This new sensor design is like a thermometer that can detect and isolate the angle of the sensor, while also measuring temperature to eliminate thermal issues.

Problems solved by technology

These constraints stem from a fundamental Q versus bandwidth tradeoff and dynamic range limitations of analog Amplitude Modulation (AM) systems.

The first fundamental limitation of the described conventional architecture comes from the necessity to precisely measure extremely small analogue signals.

This imposes a fundamental limitation on the dynamic range and output stability and precludes MEMS gyroscopes from many potential applications.

While temperature compensation using an embedded thermometer is often used to reduce the effect of temperature, the approach limits the accuracy of the sensors and suffers from thermal hysteresis and lag.

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